from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

Having the power of being readily converted into gas or vapor. Sometimes applied, in chemistry, to those constituents, or that portion, of a substance which is driven off by heating at a specified temperature.

Flying, or able to fly; having the power of flight; volant; volitant.

Having the quality of taking flight or passing off by spontaneous evaporation; evaporating rapidly; becoming diffused more or less freely in the atmosphere.

Jeffrey R. Immelt, G.E.'s chief executive, said that the company was pleased with the results, the sixth consecutive quarter of double digit growth in operating earnings, in what he called a "volatile macro environment."